Wiring, Stereo & Electronics Audio Components | Radars | Alarms - and things that spark when they shouldn't

Good idea... bad idea?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 24, 2008 | 01:07 PM
  #1  
jmdale1984's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 777
Likes: 0
From: Palestine (East Texas), Texas
Default Good idea... bad idea?

I'm always having trouble with seeing in reverse because my reverse lights aren't bright enough. I tried the little ricer hyper whites or whatever, and with one stock bulb, and one of those, I couldn't even see the difference between the two sides.

I've got export tails on the way, and maybe that'll help. I was about to buy the smt LEDs, but then I seen this...

http://www.autobarn.net/des20108.html

(yeah, yeah... sorry, non-sponsor link, but I don't think any sponsors are selling anything like this)

Does anyone think this would be a good idea? I know it would probably get hotter, but the reverse lights are only on for a maybe 30 seconds at most, most of the time. Then again, I wonder if the circuit could even handle it.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2008 | 01:12 PM
  #2  
bb5401000's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Default

Yeah, they'll be brighter. They do consume more power than incandescent bulbs, but like you said, they're not on for very long. The worst that will probably happen is that the fuse will blow.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2008 | 02:37 PM
  #3  
Adam2001WS6's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 584
Likes: 0
From: Fairfax, Virginia
Default

Ok, I'm going to stop you dead in your tracks for the vendor choice... I've had the absolute worst experience EVER with that online vendor... I would HIGHLY recommend you find someone else to purchase from.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2008 | 04:09 PM
  #4  
jmdale1984's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 777
Likes: 0
From: Palestine (East Texas), Texas
Default

Originally Posted by Adam2001WS6
Ok, I'm going to stop you dead in your tracks for the vendor choice... I've had the absolute worst experience EVER with that online vendor... I would HIGHLY recommend you find someone else to purchase from.
I'll keep that in mind. I think I'm gonna try these out, found them on ebay, everyone else seems to be sold out because they were discontinued.
Reply
Old Oct 24, 2008 | 04:43 PM
  #5  
KEE AUDIO's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (65)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,851
Likes: 2
From: Marietta, GA
Default

Have you considered an LED bulb in that location. LED's tend to burn pretty bright and not use as much power. I've seen some pretty cool installs using LED's to replace standard bulbs.
Reply
Old Nov 10, 2008 | 01:02 AM
  #6  
jmdale1984's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Resident
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 777
Likes: 0
From: Palestine (East Texas), Texas
Default

In case anyone wondered...

I put these in, and they are brighter than stock, but maybe not as much as you'd expect going from regular bulbs to halogens. It helps me see at night, and I feel a little safer backing up now.

FYI... the export lights helped more than the bulbs did. The exports have a somewhat reflective backing in the housing, whereas the factory LS1 (and LT1 IIRC) did not.
Reply
Old Nov 10, 2008 | 08:35 AM
  #7  
VIP1's Avatar
Copy & Paste Moderator
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,764
Likes: 208
From: Eastern MA
Default

I have halogen reverse lights. I bought them from PepBoys about 2 years ago. They are 50watt halogen bulbs re-based to fit (and advertised as such) in place of the stock reverse lights. The package is a yellow & black blister pack (backboard with clear plastic holding the bulb).

There are cell phone pics of the package in this post by Mustang5.Ohater:
https://ls1tech.com/forums/showpost....31&postcount=4


Reply
Old Nov 10, 2008 | 08:38 AM
  #8  
VIP1's Avatar
Copy & Paste Moderator
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,764
Likes: 208
From: Eastern MA
Default

Originally Posted by KEE AUDIO
Have you considered an LED bulb in that location. LED's tend to burn pretty bright and not use as much power. I've seen some pretty cool installs using LED's to replace standard bulbs.
There currently aren't any commercially available LED drop-in units that are brighter than halogen. The light is whiter, but not brighter. Its usually dimmer actually. Maybe in a few years since a few high-end cars are starting to come with optional LED headlights.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Nov 10, 2008 | 09:57 AM
  #9  
italicizedsponge's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 725
Likes: 1
Default

Originally Posted by VIP1
There currently aren't any commercially available LED drop-in units that are brighter than halogen. The light is whiter, but not brighter. Its usually dimmer actually. Maybe in a few years since a few high-end cars are starting to come with optional LED headlights.
i thought the new ones are brighter. luxeon i think they are called?
Reply
Old Nov 10, 2008 | 01:02 PM
  #10  
VIP1's Avatar
Copy & Paste Moderator
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,764
Likes: 208
From: Eastern MA
Default

Originally Posted by italicizedsponge
i thought the new ones are brighter. luxeon i think they are called?
Brighter than previous generation, but still not brighter than halogen..... unless you can get your hands on a big one or larger array. The current 1watt or 3watt luxeon can't match a 50watt halogen.... maybe a large array of them and a lens, but then you go way past the cost/effectiveness line.

CREE (I think thats the name) has some bright stuff out too.

Audi / Lexus / Cadillac do have optional LED headlights and Fog lights on some recent (and upcoming) vehicles, but they are not easy to get or affordable.... yet.

I'm not saying that there aren't any LEDs that are as bright as Halogen. I just saying that there aren't any commercially available drop in units yet. They are niche market expensive stuff right now.

Last edited by VIP1; Nov 10, 2008 at 01:08 PM.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:45 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE